Lakas: Opposition to launch hi-tech cheating

Lakas NUCD-UMDP executive director Joey Rufino warned yesterday that the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) and Puwersa ng Masa (PnM) will launch a massive and high-tech cheating operation during the upcoming May 14 elections.

Rufino made the allegations following reports the opposition has set up a state-of-the-art, satellite-linked nationwide communications system capable of hacking into the communications network of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Rufino said Lakas officials were informed that LDP and PnM finalized the plan at a five-star hotel in Makati last Saturday in a meeting between opposition campaign manager Sen. Tito Sotto and officials of one of the largest telecommunications companies in the Philippines. The latter was allegedly awarded the contract to establish the "Internet-based hacking system" purposely for the May 14 election.

The satellite-based system is capable of operating a data-based and voice-operated network, including a video-fed operation.

Technicians of the telecom company were on hand to explain the mechanics of the cheating machine, Lakas officials were told.

Rufino said because of these developments, Lakas-NUCD is making representations with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to locate the sites of these illegal equipment to stop their use to manipulate election results this May.

The problem facing the Comelec is that the "hacking" system is highly mobile and can be transferred at will, thus their locations will be hard to pinpoint.

Rufino said the well-trained group of communications experts has been employed by the opposition to operate these equipment capable of tapping into the communications network of the Comelec and even that of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel).

In addition, Rufino said the members of the opposition would also make full use of these equipment to communicate with each other, especially in the issuance of instructions in connection with the delivery of campaign funds to its political operators as it did in the 1998 elections.

As in the 1998 presidential polls, Rufino said the opposition is again relying on its vast nationwide communications network composed of jueteng, masiao, Last "2" and other suspected gambling lords to ensure the victory of its senatorial candidates led by former Sen. Edgardo Angara and former First Lady Dr. Luisa Ejercito.

He stressed, however, that even with its sophisticated equipment, the opposition can still be stopped from cheating at the polls through vigilance, as he urged the Filipino people to protect the integrity of the May 14 elections by keeping a tight watch on the electoral process.

"On this election rests the future of this country," Rufino said, "because the conduct of the elections will have a bearing on present efforts to revive the Philippine economy that has all but collapsed due to the culture of corruption perpetrated during the Estrada administration.

Rufino said that the whole world is watching the upcoming elections, particularly the foreign investors whose decisions to make new investments or infuse additional capital into their businesses already in the country would depend much on how credible the May 14 elections will be.

He said government accountants and auditors can become the catalysts in ensuring that the May 14 polls are honest, orderly and peaceful because government efforts to promote the Philippines as a viable investment destination in the face of the economic recession in Western countries will fail if the elections will turn out to be a farce.

He said the Lakas-NUCD is optimistic the May 14 polls will usher in a new era of national governance that will promote the efficient utilization of scarce government resources.

Rufino said the ruling party also hopes that the May 14 elections will bring the curtains down on what he described as the "dark era in Philippine history" when an incumbent president was caught receiving bribes from illegal sources, referring to charges made by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson against ousted President Joseph Estrada.